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DUBLIN, Ireland, CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 2004--Elan Corporation, plc and Biogen Idec today announced that the Phase III maintenance trial of ANTEGREN® (natalizumab) in Crohn's disease met the primary endpoint of maintenance of response. Maintenance of response was defined by a sustained Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score of less than 220 as well as no use of rescue intervention throughout 6 months of this study. There was a significant treatment difference of greater than 30 percent in favor of natalizumab in patients taking the drug compared to those taking placebo. No notable difference in the overall rates of side effects between natalizumab and placebo treatment groups was observed through month 6.
Elan and Biogen Idec, which are collaborating on the development, manufacturing and marketing of natalizumab, will discuss these data with regulatory authorities in both the U.S. and Europe and determine the appropriate path forward for natalizumab in Crohn's disease. The clinical development program for natalizumab in multiple sclerosis (MS) is ongoing, with more than 2,000 patients enrolled.
"We are extremely encouraged by these findings and are committed to the further development and evaluation of natalizumab in Crohn's disease," said Lars Ekman, MD, executive vice president and president, Research and Development, Elan. "These natalizumab data also reinforce the importance of studying its novel mechanism of action in the treatment of other severe and chronic inflammatory diseases. We expect to share the data from this study at a major medical meeting in the first half of this year."
The Phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled, international trial known as ENACT-2 (Evaluation of Natalizumab as Continuous Therapy-2) enrolled responders from ENACT-1 (a 3-month study in patients with very active Crohn's disease). These 428 patients from ENACT-1 were re-randomized after 3 months to one of two treatment groups: natalizumab (300 mg) or placebo, both administered monthly for a total of 12 months. The primary endpoint was through month 6 of ENACT-2; additional analyses will be performed at other timepoints.
The safety profile seen in this trial is similar to that seen in previous natalizumab trials. The most frequently reported adverse events in either group in the first 6 months of the study were headache, nausea and abdominal pain.
The Ongoing Clinical Development Program for Natalizumab
Concurrently, two Phase III studies in multiple sclerosis (MS) are underway. AFFIRM (natalizumab safety and efficacy in relapsing-remitting MS) will evaluate the ability of natalizumab to slow the rate of disability in MS and reduce the rate of clinical relapses; SENTINEL (safety and efficacy of natalizumab in combination with AVONEX® (Interferon beta-1a) in patients with relapsing-remitting MS) will determine if the combination of natalizumab and AVONEX is more effective than treatment with AVONEX alone in slowing rate of disability and reducing rate of clinical relapses.
"We are confident in the potential of natalizumab as a therapeutic option for patients with chronic immunologic diseases," said Burt Adelman, MD, executive vice president, Development, Biogen Idec. "We look forward to working with the regulatory agencies to determine the next steps."
About ANTEGREN (natalizumab)
Natalizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, has a novel mechanism of action: it is the first alpha-4 antagonist in the new SAM (selective adhesion molecule) inhibitor class. The drug was designed to selectively inhibit immune cells from leaving the bloodstream and to prevent these cells from migrating into chronically inflamed tissue -- the gastrointestinal tract in Crohn's disease, the brain in MS and the joints in rheumatoid arthritis -- where they may cause or maintain inflammation. To date, more than 4,000 patients have participated in natalizumab clinical studies.
About Crohn's Disease
Approximately one million people worldwide have Crohn's disease, a chronic and progressive inflammatory relapsing-remitting disease of the gastrointestinal tract, which commonly affects both men and women. The disease usually causes diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, often fever, and at times rectal bleeding. Loss of appetite and subsequent weight loss also may occur. Complications include narrowing of the intestine, obstruction, abscesses, and fistulas (abnormal channels connecting the intestine and other organs, including the skin), malnutrition and decreased growth rate in children.
Conference Call and Webcast
Elan and Biogen Idec are conducting a joint conference call to discuss natalizumab results in Crohn's disease at 8:30 am ET on January 29, 2004, and the playback information can be accessed through Elan's homepage, http://www.elan.com and Biogen Idec's homepage, http://www.biogenidec.com.
About Elan
Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN - News) is focused on the discovery, development, manufacturing, selling and marketing of novel therapeutic products in neurology, severe pain and autoimmune diseases. Elan shares trade on the New York, London and Dublin Stock Exchanges. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.elan.com.
About Biogen Idec
Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB - News) creates new standards of care in oncology and immunology. As a global leader in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of novel therapies, Biogen Idec transforms scientific discoveries into advances in human healthcare. For product labeling, press releases and additional information about the company, please visit http://www.biogenidec.com.
Note: Another press release notes: ""We are extremely encouraged by these findings," Elan said in a statement.
The market has high hopes for Antegren, which is being tested on both Crohn's Disease and multiple sclerosis.
Elan said it would now discuss the trial data with regulatory authorities in the United States and Europe. "
